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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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August 10, 1989 · Maule M-5 · N5644W

Nebesna Glacier, AK

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 10, 1989
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Nebesna Glacier, AK
Aircraft
Maule M-5
Tail Number
N5644W
Operator
Crostick Arthur
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC89LA139

THE PLT WAS ON A FLT TO THE NEBESNA GLACIER AREA TO GO HUNTING. HE FOUND WHAT LOOKED LIKE A CHOICE SITE TO LAND FROM WHERE HE PLANNED TO HIKE. HIS 1ST APCH TO LAND WAS LONG, SO HE MADE A GO-AROUND. HIS 2ND APCH WAS ALSO LONG, BUT THIS TIME, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN & THE WHEELS CAUGHT SOME LOW SHRUBS, SLOWING THE ACFT. THE PLT STATED HE 'ADDED FULL POWER FOR GO-AROUND, STRUGGLED INTO THE AIR WITH FULL FLAPS, AND TURNED TOWARD LOWER TERRAIN' WHICH WAS DOWN WIND. HE SAID THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT & WAS 'PUSHED' INTO A DRY RIVER BED. HE STATED THAT HE MADE A CONTROLLED LANDING ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THE INTENDED LANDING AREA, BUT THE TERRAIN WAS TOO ROUGH & THE LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO INADVERTENTLY TOUCH DOWN, HE DELAYED MAKING A GO-AROUND, AND HE DID NOT MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT SPEED TO CONTINUE THE GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, HIGH VEGETATION IN THE SELECTED LANDING AREA, A DOWNDRAFT, AND ROUGH TERRAIN IN THE DRY RIVER BED.

Full Narrative

THE PLT WAS ON A FLT TO THE NEBESNA GLACIER AREA TO GO HUNTING. HE FOUND WHAT LOOKED LIKE A CHOICE SITE TO LAND FROM WHERE HE PLANNED TO HIKE. HIS 1ST APCH TO LAND WAS LONG, SO HE MADE A GO-AROUND. HIS 2ND APCH WAS ALSO LONG, BUT THIS TIME, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN & THE WHEELS CAUGHT SOME LOW SHRUBS, SLOWING THE ACFT. THE PLT STATED HE 'ADDED FULL POWER FOR GO-AROUND, STRUGGLED INTO THE AIR WITH FULL FLAPS, AND TURNED TOWARD LOWER TERRAIN' WHICH WAS DOWN WIND. HE SAID THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT & WAS 'PUSHED' INTO A DRY RIVER BED. HE STATED THAT HE MADE A CONTROLLED LANDING ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THE INTENDED LANDING AREA, BUT THE TERRAIN WAS TOO ROUGH & THE LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:30 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMaule M-5
Tail NumberN5644W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorCrostick Arthur
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540 · Reciprocating · 235
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 39 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 10 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility60 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data